Second suspect in San Jose homicide and attempted cop killing arrested in Concord

A 15-year-old boy linked to a San Jose crime spree that killed a Campbell man and ended with an attempted cop killing was arrested Friday in Concord, authorities said.

The youth, a San Jose resident who spent the past week on the lam, was tracked down to an apartment complex near Clayton and Kirker Pass roads in Concord about 5 p.m. Friday, according to San Jose and Concord police officers.

The young suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall; his identity was not released because he's a minor. He is one of two people linked to a Nov. 16 rampage that included four armed robberies, a homicide and the ambush of a San Jose police officer, who was wounded by gunfire but is expected to recover.

News of the second suspect's arrest came as friends and family held a memorial service Saturday for 22-year-old Rory Park-Pettiford, a Campbell native and Westmont High School alum who was slain in the midst of the crime spree.

The first suspect, 26-year-old Jonathan Dawson Wilbanks of San Jose, appeared in court Wednesday to answer to charges of murder with special circumstances, attempted murder of a peace officer, four counts of second-degree robbery, assault with a firearm on an officer and receiving a stolen vehicle. Wilbanks is being held without bail in Santa Clara County Jail.

Advertisement

Authorities believe Wilbanks and the juvenile suspect killed Park-Pettiford during a carjacking attempt. They then allegedly shot and injured an officer and got into a rolling gunbattle before Wilbanks was arrested hiding in a nearby house. The second suspect eluded capture until Friday.

The charges against Wilbanks make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted, but prosecutors say it's too early to know whether that will be pursued.

According to police, the night of crime started about 7:25 p.m. on Nov. 16 when two males robbed a Little Caesar's Pizza on Story Road and went on to rob a gas station on East Capitol Expressway, a Jack in the Box on Curtner Avenue and a spa on Bird Avenue. Police believe they were looking to change cars when they went to a 7-Eleven on South Kiely Avenue in West San Jose.

Park-Pettiford and a friend had just left the minimart when they saw at least one of the two males clad in a ski mask, carrying a gun. One of the two fatally shot Park-Pettiford as he tried to start his car to get away, relatives said.

The two males fled but were spotted by a San Jose officer. When the duo's car stopped at Tully Road and Lanai Avenue, they got out and opened fire on the trailing officer and his vehicle in what police described as an ambush, with the officer blocked in by traffic with no means of escape.

It was "raining down, round after round" on the officer, prosecutors said.

The first backup officer to arrive, five-year veteran Bruce Barthelemy, fired at Wilbanks, hitting him twice, police said. The shootout continued as Barthelemy and the injured officer, a 10-year veteran whose name has not been released, gave chase.

At some point the juvenile suspect jumped out of the car and ran into a neighborhood. Wilbanks kept driving but crashed near Reid-Hillview Airport, then holed up in a home until police cornered and arrested him.